Owner of Twilight Intuition – Chapter 81

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖𝟏

‘Shield Bash is……’

[F-rank Shield Bash Effect] (LV10)

━Applies Defense as Damage.

━Additional Damage 45→50.

*Magic Power Consumption: 40 when used.

*Stamina Consumption: 0.5% when used.

‘Level 10, huh.’

The level went up faster than expected. Maybe it’s because it’s less burdensome to use than Giant’s Sprint. Actually, I used it dozens of times in the Bamut Cult subjugation.

‘But I should level up Provoke too.’

There are too many skills I need to level up. Moreover, my worries only deepened because the levels haven’t been going up well after level 10. Anyway, as I was thinking about skills and moving to the place marked on the map, an unexpected sight came into view.

Murmur~ Murmur~

‘Huh? What’s this? Those people?’

In the place presumed to be the entrance to the ancient ruins, there were more players than I expected. Could it be that everyone here received the quest? Come to think of it, it’s not surprising. It’s because it was a quest that spawned just from catching a lizard. So it wouldn’t be strange at all if these people here received the same quest as me.

“As expected, there are a lot of people.”

“Were there a lot yesterday too?”

“Yes. Guilds don’t manage quest dungeons. So there are many people who come here for hunting.”

In other words, it means that anyone can enter the dungeon regardless of their guild affiliation. Also, as Sina said, there were quite a few players looking for parties at the entrance to the ruins.

“Looking for party! Looking for party!”

“Healer! Healer with healing power over 300, come here!”

“……”

But why are they shouting while looking this way?

Ignoring the players who seemed to be shouting for us to join their party, we moved towards the ruins. Of course, that doesn’t mean there weren’t players who tried to stop us while we were walking.

“Excuse me, hey! If you want to use physical attacks in the ruins, you need at least 1,000 damage.”

“1,000?”

“Yes. So please take me with you. Lightning attribute works well here. If I use lightning magic, the damage is 300~400 each time. Also, I’ve been inside the ruins several times, so I know the terrain to some extent……”

“No thanks.”

I can deal more than 1,000 damage just by using Shield Bash. If I use Giant’s Sprint, it’s over 2,000 damage. Also, even if it wasn’t for the damage, I didn’t want to take anyone else with me, so I immediately stepped into the entrance of the ruins.

[You have discovered the entrance to the quest dungeon, ‘Broken Temple’.]

[This is a 5-person dungeon. If you enter as a party, you can bring up to 4 people who have received the same quest.]

[Would you like to enter?]

‘5-person?’

While the Bamut Cult Shrine was a 1-person dungeon, this dungeon seemed to be a 5-person dungeon, allowing up to 5 people to enter.

Well, I don’t really care about that.

“Let’s go in.”

[Moving to the quest dungeon, ‘Broken Temple’.]

Pabat!━

‘This is……’

The Broken Temple?

Transported to the place called the Broken Temple, I looked around at the somewhat mystical atmosphere. As befitting the name Broken Temple, the surroundings were filled with traces of time, and a blue light, as if reflecting moonlight, illuminated the area.

“It’s beautiful even seeing it again.”

Yua quietly admired the place where everything was bathed in a soft blue light. It must have been quite a sight to elicit admiration even though it was her second time seeing it.

Splash━

“……Water?”

Then I noticed that there was water pooled on the floor. It only came up to my ankles, so I believed it wouldn’t be a problem for movement.

“By the way, what kind of monsters appear here?”

“They’re called Exiled Plunderers…… Alligators.”

Alligators?

“Basilisks?”

“No, you’ll see when you get there.”

“……?”

What does she mean? I’ll see when I get there?

I was puzzled, but I decided to go ahead. With me, the one with high defense, in the lead, Yua and Sina followed me as we walked down the path.

Splash- Splash━

‘It’s quiet.’

As soon as I thought that, a strange sound came from ahead.

Creak, Creak.

“Hmm?”

A sound that seemed to be a monster could be heard, but I didn’t stop walking. After walking for a few more seconds, I was able to identify the source of the sound. As Yua said, three alligators were waiting for us.

[Exiled Plunderer]

‘Alligators……’

They were definitely different from Basilisks. If Basilisks were yellow alligators, these alligators were the green ones I commonly knew. What was even more peculiar was that they walked on two legs.

‘What kind of alligator walks on two legs?’

Moreover, unlike typical alligators, they had long limbs and were holding axes and shields in their hands. They were monsters that reminded me of the Merfolk Dungeon that Raz discovered.

“I’ll hold them off, so attack when I do.”

“You’ll hold them off alone?”

“I have a skill I learned for that.”

Come to think of it, I’ve never used a provoke skill while hunting with Yua. Maybe Yua was thinking of a chaotic battle like the one in the Merfolk Dungeon? But I believed that if I, with my massive health and defense, used provoke, it would be a completely different battle.

“Kra-rak!”

‘Yes, come on.’

The alligators, having spotted us, immediately started running towards us. Of course, I’m not going to panic just because they’re charging. Judging that they were within the provoke range, I immediately used the skill.

“Provoking Shout!”

Bang!━

“Krak? Krr-rak!”

As expected, the alligators that were running towards Yua and me hesitated for a moment, then turned towards me. As I drew the alligators towards me, I could see Yua quickly thrusting her spear from behind.

Puck!━

‘As expected.’

Yua striking as soon as the provoke landed. Her movements were so clean that I couldn’t help but admire her. I don’t know for sure, but if I gave her a proper weapon, wouldn’t she be stronger than me? Anyway, the alligator that was attacked by Yua staggered back a few steps, but perhaps due to the provoke effect, it didn’t turn its attention towards her.

‘Provoke is the best!’

Clang━

[You have taken damage. -1.]

“Shield Bash!”

Puck!━

[Skill Damage! 589.]

I admire the provoke and bash the alligator’s snout with my shield. Perhaps due to the provoke, the alligators didn’t even try to dodge, allowing me to bash them with my shield without worry. After being hit exactly six times, the alligator disappeared, leaving behind experience points.

[Combat Experience 1,040 acquired!]

‘Six hits? How much health does it have?’

Even with a simple calculation, it seemed to be well over 3,000.

Even I haven’t seen many normal monsters with this much health. I don’t know for sure, but it seemed like only the top-ranked players at the current player level could handle them.

‘But didn’t Yua handle them alone yesterday?’

I was curious. I can endure with my overwhelming defense, but Yua doesn’t have outstanding defense like me. And as soon as I thought that, my attacks slackened for a moment.

‘Let’s observe for a bit.’

“Full Power Attack.”

Pababat!━

Suddenly, red and green lights emanated from Yua’s hand and spear as she shouted “Full Power Attack.” Seeing at least two skills activated simultaneously, it seemed like she had combined the commands into one.

“Stab.”

Kwakwakwak!━

[Combat Experience 1,040 acquired!]

‘Did she combine that skill too?’

Yua’s spear thrust out at an incredible speed. The spear pierced exactly 5 times, and 2 of them were judged as penetrating damage, instantly killing the alligator. Furthermore, she dealt with the remaining one using Stab as well.

[Combat Experience 1,040 acquired!]

‘It seems like she used at least 4 skills.’

Actually, combining skills like Yua does is a common method. I don’t need to do that, so I use them separately, but seeing Yua now, I felt that she was quite impressive.

“I think you can do this without me.”

“No. Actually, if I fight like this, my magic power is reduced by more than half, so I can’t fight for long.”

“That makes sense.”

The drawback of the so-called ‘Skill Combination’ is that it drains magic power and stamina quickly. It’s not good for long battles, but it seemed to be the best way to finish quickly.

“Also, you’re more amazing than me, Rudin-nim. You blocked the alligator’s attacks so easily.”

“Well, I have rare equipment.”

Actually, the effect of the title was greater than the rare equipment, but I didn’t mention it. To talk about the title, I would have to talk about the S-rank skill I acquired.

‘Hmm, by the way……’

Where’s the path?

After defeating the alligators, I looked around, and there were paths in all directions. While I was looking at the paths in four directions, including the entrance we came from, Yua’s voice reached me.

“No matter which way we go, we end up in the same place.”

“Is that so?”

The same place? Do we need to find the right path? But in this situation, there was nothing I could do just by thinking.

“Let’s move for now.”

“Do you have a good idea?”

“I think we’ll know when we get there.”

There’s no way a good idea would come to me, who is new to this place. However, I believed that if we moved around, we would be able to find some kind of pattern, and if we could figure out that pattern, we could find a way out.

“Krr-r……”

With that thought, I headed towards the path directly in front of us, and the alligator’s cry could be heard again. As we exited the path, the same place as before appeared, and this time, four alligators greeted us.

“Four this time.”

“What’s the maximum number that appears?”

“I don’t know for sure, but yesterday, I died while fighting five.”

‘Then there might be more.’

“Kra-rak!”

Thinking that, I dealt with the charging alligators. Using Provoke and Shield Bash appropriately, I killed two alligators. Yua also dealt with two, so we won relatively easily, but the paths in four directions once again held me back.

‘Hmm.’

What’s the pattern of this dungeon? Is it the number of monsters?

‘Well, if we just wander around, we’ll reach the center, right?’

What else can I do in a situation with no clear clues? I just moved wherever my feet took me.

*　*　*

Splash- Splash━

“……Rudin-nim. Be honest. Are we lost?”

After walking for a while, Sina’s voice suddenly reached me. It was a question, but it felt like it was filled with certainty. What should I do? I haven’t found the pattern yet, so we’ve been wandering around for a while, but in other words, we’re lost.

“……”

“Ahh! We’re lost! It’s obvious!”

Silence is consent, right? Seeing me not answering, Sina grabbed her head and started to despair.

‘Sigh, what if we can’t find it today?’

Should I give up on the quest?

No, simply giving up is also a problem. Since there’s no other way out, it means I have to die to the alligators, but considering the rare equipment I’m wearing, I didn’t want to do that.

‘Wait? Isn’t there a Return Scroll?’

But after thinking about it, this wasn’t a good option either.

I use the Return Scroll to escape. Yua escapes by being partnered with me. Then Sina would be left alone. Thinking that far, I quickly abandoned the idea of giving up and continued to wander around the ruins.

“For a dungeon, there are no herbs, and I don’t know where the luggage bag is either.”

As Sina said, there was nothing here, including herbs. Are there only alligators? Well, even if she said that, it wouldn’t cheer Sina up, so I just walked silently.

“But at least we don’t have to worry about dying.”

“That’s true, but……”

“We’ll be able to arrive if we just go a little further.”

“……You said that 10 minutes ago too.”

The number of alligators we’ve killed so far is roughly 30~40. The battles weren’t difficult. If I just watched out for the piercing damage from their bites, I didn’t take any damage.

It would be strange if it was difficult.

‘I think we’re lost.’

I should have brought Raz with me.

“Krr-r……”

“Sigh.”

Thinking about this and that, I exited the path, and this time, only one alligator was waiting for us. I don’t know what it was trying to do with just one, but I dealt with it easily.

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